If humans are ever to build settlements on Mars, they will need oxygen – to breathe but also to allow rocket fuels to burn for return missions. But oxygen makes up only a tiny percentage of the Martian atmosphere, and transporting air to Mars from Earth is not a practical solution. Instead scientists have pinned their hopes on generating oxygen locally on the red planet, and this new robotic chemist aims to do just that. Powered by AI, it autonomously creates catalysts using locally sourced materials, capable of producing as much oxygen as a tree.

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